What Are We Going to Learn?

What Are We Going to Learn?

People generally tend to share their moments of happiness and sorrow. They  are happy when they become wealthy. They will be joyous when promoted at work, content when they recover from illness, and cheerful when the world smiles at them and fulfils their dreams.

Likewise, they all grieve over illness, disgrace and loss of wealth. Knowing this to be the case, let us look for ways in which to make our joy everlasting and hence overpower our sorrows. Yes, in reality life tends to be both sweet and bitter, and on this we would not disagree, but why do we often focus on our calamities and sorrows, and as a result become depressed for days on end? Where an hour is enough to grieve over something, hours on end are spent grieving. Why? 

I realise that sorrow and anguish enter our hearts without seeking permission, but for each door of sadness that opens there are a thousand means of shutting it, and these are what we will expound  here.

Allow me to bring your attention to another matter: How often is it that we see those people who are loved by everyone? Many long to meet them and be in their company, but do you not wish to be one of them? Why be content at being amazed by such people all the time? Why not try to be amazing yourself?

Here we will learn how to be amazing.

Why was it that when your cousin spoke at the gathering, everyone listened to him attentively? Why were they amazed at his manners of speech? Why was it that when you spoke, they all turned away and began to talk amongst themselves? Why was that? You may be more well-informed, better qualified and possess a higher status than him. How then did he manage to get all the attention and you failed?

Why is it that one father is dearly loved by his children who love to greet him and accompany him wherever he goes, while another father begs his children to accompany him while they keep making all kinds of excuses to avoid doing so?

Are they not both fathers? Then why the difference?

Here we will learn how to enjoy life, know the various techniques to attract people, influence them, persevere with their faults, deal with people with bad manners, and much, much more. So, welcome!
 

A word...

Success is not to discover what others like, it is to acquire and practise the skills that help one gain their love.

Source:
Istamti' Bihayaatik, Dr. Muhammad 'Abd Al-Rahman Al-'Arifi, English version: Enjoy Your Life, Translated by: Saleem Beg

They Did Not Benefit

They Did Not Benefit

I remember once receiving a message on my mobile phone which read: “Dear Shaykh, what is the ruling on suicide?” 

I called the sender to find a very young man on the other end of the line. I said, “I am sorry, I didn’t understand your question. 

Can you please repeat your question?” He said with a grieving voice, “The question is clear. What is the ruling on suicide?” 

I decided to surprise him by saying in response something unexpected, so I said, “It is recommended!” 

He screamed, “What?!” 

I said, “How about if we discuss the best way for you to do it?” 

The young man fell silent. I said to him, “OK. Why do you want to commit suicide?” 

He said, “Because, I can’t find work.People do not love me. In fact, I am an utter  failure...”, and thus he began to relate to me his long story in order to prove that he had failed to develop his interpersonal skills and was unsuccessful in utilising his talents. 

This is a problem with many people. Why do some of us feel inferior? Why do we look at those at the peak of the mountain while thinking of ourselves as unworthy of reaching that peak as they have, or even climbing it as they did?

The one frightened of climbing mountains 

forever lives in the ditches 

Do you wish to know who will not benefit from this book, or any other similar book, for that matter? It is the unfortunate one who surrenders to his own errors and becomes satisfied with his limited skills, and says, “This is my nature. I have become too used to it now; I cannot change my ways. Everyone knows this is how I am. I can never speak like Khalid does, or have a cheerful countenance like Ahmad has, or be universally loved the way Ziyad is. That would be impossible.” 

I once sat with a very old man in a public gathering. Most of those present were people with the usual skills and abilities. The old man was busy speaking to whoever was sitting next to him. He did not stand out in the crowd for any reason, except by virtue of his old age. 

I delivered a lecture and during it mentioned a verdict given by the eminent Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Aziz bin Baz. When I finished,the old man said to me with pride, “Shaykh Ibn Baz and I were colleagues. We used to study together in a mosque under Shaykh Muhammad bin Ibrahim, about forty years ago.” 

I turned around to look at him and noticed that he seemed very happy to share this information with me. He was delighted to have accompanied a successful man once in his life. I said to myself, “Poor man! Why did you not become as successful as Ibn Baz? If you knew the way to success, why did you not pursue it? 

Why is it that when Ibn Baz passes away, people cry for him from the pulpits, mihrabs, and institutes, and various nations grieve over the loss; yet, when your death comes, perhaps, nobody would shed a single tear, except out of kindness or custom!” 

We all may say at some time or another, “We knew so-andso and we sat with so-and-so.” But this is nothing to be proud of. What one can be proud of is to scale the peak as they did. 

Be brave and from now on be determined to utilise all the abilities you possess. Be successful. Replace the frown on your face with a smile, depression with cheerfulness, miserliness with generosity, and anger with perseverance. Turn your calamities into occasions of joy and your faith into a weapon! 

Enjoy your life, for it is brief and there is no time in it for anguish. As for how to do this, then this is the reason for my writing this book. So bear with me until the end, with Allah’s permission.
 

You will bear with us if... 

You are brave enough to be determined and persistent on the development of your interpersonal skills, and if you are willing to take advantage of your abilities and talents.

Source: 

Istamti' Bihayaatik by: Dr. Muhammad 'Abd Al-Rahman Al-'Arifi, English version: Enjoy Your Life, Translated by: Saleem Beg

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by a decrease in bone density and strength, that's to say, bones become more fragile and breakable, with the presence of abnormal pores, taking the shape of sponge. The disorder weakens bones and increases their susceptibility to fractures such as the fractures of spine and thighbone.

photo: pixabay.com

Causes:

Your bone tissues are in a constant state of renewal from birth until adolescence and reach their peak bone density by early twenties, and with aging the bone tissues degrade and the body begins to replace them, the process is known as (renewal).

In case of osteoporosis the bone tissues cannot be compensated and become less dense and porous, brittle and breakable.

Symptoms and signs:

The symptoms do not usually show up at the early stages of osteoporosis, but some of them occur with the progress of the disease, including:

• Back pain caused by a fractured or collapsed vertebra. 
• Loss of height.
• Stooped posture.
• Easily incidence of bone fractures.

Risk factors:

The following risk factors are uncontrollable:

• Aging.
• Gender: Women are much more likely to develop osteoporosis.
• Family history of osteoporosis.
• Menopause/Hysterectomy
• Rheumatoid arthritis.
• Primary and secondary hypogonadism.
• Diabetes.

The controllable factors:

• Smoking.
• Low BMI (Body Mass Index).
• Malnutrition.
• Vitamin D deficiency.
• Vitamin C deficiency.
• Protein deficiency.
• Eating disorders.
• Lack of physical activities.
• Low calcium in diet.
• Frequent falls.

 Diagnosis:

• Diagnosis is done by evaluating risk factors and medical history of patient.
• Bone density device Central DXA.

Complications:

Bone fractures, particularly in the spine, pelvic bones and thighs are the most serious complication of osteoporosis due to the fact that they are the main bones that carry the bulk of the body weight. In some cases, spinal fractures can occur even if you haven't fallen or got a blow as a result of weakened back bones (vertebrae).

Treatment:

Medications:

• Alendronate.
• Risedronate.
• Ibandronate.
• Zoledronic acid.

Drugs supporting the treatment of osteoporosis:

The doctor may prescribe calcium and vitamin D as supportive drugs for treating osteoporosis.

Prevention:

• Improving the life style (healthy diet and exercising).
• Quitting smoking.
• Exposing to sunrays to stimulate the production of vitamin D. 
• Nutrition: Eating healthy foods such as the ones rich in calcium and vitamin D.

 source: http://www.moh.gov.sa/

Lung Cancer

Lung Cancer

Lung Cancer:

Lung cancer is the term used to describe the growth of abnormal cells lining the trachea inside the lung. These cells divide and grow more rapidly than normal cells. They are cancerous cells that combine to form a cluster or tumor in the lung.

pixabay.com

If the cancerous cells originate in the lungs, the tumor is called a primary lung cancer.

However, if some lung cancer cells are able to move through the blood vessels, they get attached to another organ of the body and continue growing. This growth and movement of the new cancerous cells is called malignant tumor or a secondary lung cancer.

Causes:

• Smoking is a major factor in the development of lung cancer.
• Secondhand smoking.
• Genetic factor (family history).
• Repeated exposure to chemical fumes and gasses such as radioactive radon gas. 

 Symptoms:

• Acute and chronic cough accompanied by blood.
• Change in the color, intensity and volume of coughing up sputum.
• Wheezing.
• Changes in the voice or being hoarse.
• Great weight loss without known reason.
• General feeling of fatigue and weakness.
• Feeling of pain in chest, shoulder, arms or back.
• Shortness of breath.
• Recurrent pneumonia.

Diagnosis:
Lung cancer is diagnosed by:

• Medical history.
• Clinical examination.
• X-ray of the lung.
• CT scan
• PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scan.
• Biopsy of lung cells.

Risk Factors

• Smoking.
• Secondhand smoking.
• Environmental pollution.
• Repeated exposure to radon gas.
• Repeated exposure to cancerous minerals and chemical materials such as: asbestos, uranium, diesel, arsenic, silica, nickel compounds, coal products, mustard gas, chrome ... etc.
• Previous radiation therapy of the lungs.
• Family history. 

 
Complications:

The lung cancer may cause health complications such as:

• Shortness of breath.
• Coughing up blood.
• Feeling pain.
• Accumulation of fluid in the lung.
• Spread of the cancer to other parts of the body.

Treatment:
Initially, treatment of lung cancer depends on the following:

• Size of tumor.
• Type of tumor.
• Stage of tumor.
• Health condition of patient.

Accordingly, treatment plan will be developed; as yet there are three types of treatment to control the lung cancer:

• Surgery.
• Radiation therapy.
• Chemotherapy.    

Prevention:

• Quitting smoking.
• Avoiding secondhand smoke.
• Physical activities on a regular basis.
• Maintaining a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables.
• Maintaining a normal weight.
• Consulting your doctor and periodic follow-up.
• Avoiding exposure to cancerous chemical materials.

 Source: http://www.moh.gov.sa/

Diabetes

Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic disease of high blood glucose (sugar) level than the normal level, and is due to either the pancreas not producing enough insulin or reduced tissues sensitivity, or both.

photo: pixabay.com

Insulin: A hormone produced by the pancreas to help control and maintain blood glucose. 

Types of the disease:

Type 1 diabetes: This type occurs when insulin producing cells are completely disrupted and become unable to produce the hormone. Usually, this type of diabetes affects young people.

Type 2 diabetes: When the body can produce insulin either in insufficient amounts or normal amounts but ineffective.

Gestational diabetes: High blood glucose as a result of the hormones produced by the placenta during pregnancy and often disappears after delivery. 

Secondary diabetes: Is diabetes that results as a consequence of another medication and hormones or pancreatic surgery and other reasons. 

Symptoms:

• Frequent urination.
• Feeling very thirsty / mouth dryness.
• Feeling very hungry.
• Sudden loss of weight.
• Fatigue.
• Itching and skin infection.
• A tingling sensation or numbness in the limbs.
• Blurred vision.Fee
• ling hot in the feet.S
• low-healing wounds.

 Diagnosis:

• Random blood sugar test.
• Fasting blood sugar test.
• Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test (acumulative diabetes). Diagnosis is done in two different dates.  

                                                           

 Averages:

High Blood Sugar Averages Prediabetes Averages Normal Sugar Averages Types of Blood Test

From 126 mg/dl or more 100-125 mg/dl Less than 100 mg/dl Fasting Blood Test

From 200 mg/dl or more 140-199 mg/dl Less than140 mg/dl 2 Hours After Eating

605% or more 5.7-6.4% Less than 5.7% Accumulative Sugar Test

Causes and Risk Factors:

• Genetic Factors: Your risk increases if a parent or sibling has type 1 diabetes.
• Obese:  The more fatty tissue you have, the more resistant your cells become to insulin.
• Exposure to viral diseases.
• High blood pressure.
• High fat in the blood.
• Laziness and lack of physical activity.

Complications:

Chronic Complications:

• Cardiovascular Diseases: Diabetes dramatically increases the risk of various cardiovascular problems, including coronary artery disease with chest pain (angina), heart attack, stroke and narrowing of arteries (atherosclerosis).
• Nerve damage (neuropathy): Excess sugar in the blood can injure the walls of the tiny blood vessels (capillaries) that nourish your nerves, especially in your legs. This can cause tingling, numbness, burning or pain that usually begins at the tips of the toes or fingers and gradually spreads upward.
• Kidney problems (nephropathy): High blood glucose leads to kidney failure or kidney diseases.
• Retinopathy: High blood sugar damages tiny vessels that bring nutrients to the retina, blocking the passage of light to the retina.
• Feet problems: Nerve damage in the limbs, particularly the feet, makes the patient unable to feel the pain of an injury which can lead to ulcers in the foot.
• Skin conditions:  Diabetes may leave you more susceptible to skin problems, including bacterial and fungal infections.
• Gingivitis.
• Osteoporosis.

Treatment: There is currently no cure for diabetes; however, you can keep level of blood sugar within normal range. Treatment of diabetes differs from patient to patient, the doctor decides the most appropriate type of treatment for each patient, depending on the following:

Type of diabetes.

• Health conditions of the patient. Effective treatment of diabetes depends on the patient himself, when he is committed to adjusting his sugar level, he will enjoy a healthy life, through the followings:
• Visiting diabetes clinic regularly.
• Checking your blood sugar regularly at home.
• Exercising regularly.
• Taking care of your feet and checking them daily.

Prevention:

Prediabetes, type2 diabetes and gestational diabetes can be prevented through the following:

• Eating healthy foods by choosing those lower in fat and calories and higher in fiber. Focusing on fruits, vegetables and whole grains. 

• Regular physical activity.

• Avoiding overweight. 

                                                             

Examinations necessary for diabetics:

• Checking blood pressure at each visit.
• Checking weight at each visit.
• Checking feet every 6 months.
• Checking accumulative sugar every 6-12 months.
• Checking cholesterol and triglycerides every 12 months.
• Checking eyes every 12 months.

(Source: http://www.moh.gov.sa/11/11/2016)

Tips to Reduce the Severity of Acne

Tips to Reduce the Severity of Acne

Tips to Reduce the Severity of Acne - Of the common errors made by the young men and women who suffer from acne, lack of knowledge about good health principles to deal with pimples and grains that are called acne, and the result is that the irritation of the situation and increase the suffering of people, especially when in this season of the year.

photo: pixabay.com

Here are some tips important and effective addition to treatment, which usually applied at home is recommended by experts dermatologist to get rid of acne or even reduce the severity and intensity in these days of those who suffer from it, and these tips:

- Try to keep your facial skin dry and clean as possible.

- Washing the face carefully and gently twice a day at least anti-bacterial soap.

- Use a mild non-oily moisturizer to the face after each washing.

- Avoid cosmetics that contain industrial chemicals or vegetable oil.

- Keep the hair clean and away from contact with the face.

- Avoid the use of forceps on the face or touching the grain.

- Avoid pressure on the skin affected by inflammatory or collars or parties to narrow head scarf.

- The use of cosmetics and beauty products without a prescription, especially those containing sulfur, resourceful, plus material used on the skin in order to lighten the pores and reduce acne.

- To dry up pimples at night, you can use toothpaste (not generation) directly on the pill, it has advantages that can help to dry up the pimples at night.

- One of the best face masks with good effect the use of the white part of egg and place it on face for 15 minutes. A. The vitamin A which is found in egg white is also very beneficial to the skin.

- The egg whites are also treated to a great interest for acne, and can be used directly to the blister.

- To rid the redness of inflamed skin face should consult a doctor to give specific treatment of the situation

HEALTHY JUICES FOR TOTAL WELLNESS

HEALTHY JUICES FOR TOTAL WELLNESS

Recommend below are the secret recipe for healthy drinking:

Carrot + Ginger + Apple = Boost and cleanse our system.

Apple + Cucumber + Celery = Prevent cancer, reduce cholesterol, and improve stomach upset and headache.

Tomato + Carrot + Apple = Improve skin complexion and bad breath.

Bitter gourd + Apple + Milk = Avoid bad breath and reduce internal body heat.

Orange + Ginger + Cucumber = Improve skin texture and moisture and reduce body heat.

Pineapple + Apple + Watermelon=To dispel excess salts, nourishes the bladder and kidney

Apple + Cucumber + Kiwi = To improves skin complexion.

Pear & Banana = To regulates sugar content.

Carrot + Apple + Pear + Mango = Clear body heat, counteracts toxicity, decreased blood pressure and fight oxidization!

Honeydew + Grape + Watermelon + Milk = Rich in vitamin C + Vitamin B2 that increases cell activity and Strengthen body immunity.

Papaya + Pineapple + Milk = Rich in vitamin C, E, Iron. Improve skin complexion and metabolism.

Banana + Pineapple + Milk = Rich in Vitamin with nutritious and prevent constipation